In the midst of an expansive void filled with stars and darkness, a powerful voice resounded, resembling a symphony of countless individuals speaking in unison. Its origin and intended recipient remained unknown.
"Even the universe can't keep you down, huh?" the majestic voice spoke, exuding a sense of satisfaction and anticipation.
However, it seemed odd for such grandiose words to come from a youthful source. The voice returned, this time with a pleased tone and an inkling of expectation, remarking, "But you're too young to utter such lofty words."
Mysteries surrounded the enigmatic being behind the voice, as it typically remained silent and immersed in its duties of maintaining balance. Its resounding voice echoed through the cosmos, resonating with unparalleled power and wisdom. Even the mightiest of gods would kneel in reverence if they were to catch even a fragment of this divine voice.
"I'll see you at the top, my child."
In an unprecedented display, the voice continued with a torrent of words, surpassing any previous records set by this enigmatic entity.
...
"He lost a significant amount of blood," a concerned and anxious voice resonated within the room.
"Why on earth did you take him to that vampire? Are you truly that clueless?" a stern and icy voice demanded.
"He claimed he had never encountered one before, so we thought it could be a valuable experience for him," Jin, Sam's grandfather, responded, bowing his head before his wife.
"A valuable experience?" The disapproving tone echoed through the room. "Is this what you consider a valuable experience?"
Jin's wife sat beside her grandson, who lay on the bed, his complexion pallid, but his breathing steady, showing signs of improvement.
"He's waking up," Xenovia whispered, her voice barely audible. Nevertheless, her words reached everyone's ears, and all attention turned towards the bed. They noticed Sam gradually stirring from his deep slumber.
Yuna, Sam's mother, embraced him tightly before he could utter a single word. "Are you alright, my baby?"
"Mom?" Sam's attempt to speak was interrupted by his mother bombarding him with a flurry of questions. "Are you feeling any pain? Let me know if anything feels off." He felt her warmth and concern, which brought a sense of comfort to his heart. Sam realized how much worry he had caused her, not only during this incident but in countless other instances.
In one such instance, he had defied her and ventured into the forest on the night the vampire was captured, causing her concern then and now.
Silently, Sam made a promise to himself. He vowed not to burden his mother with unnecessary worry and to inform her beforehand if he ever had to face danger or put himself at risk.
Glancing at his grandfather with a mild sense of confusion, Sam questioned, "Why do they seem like they've been through a lot?" Then, he recalled the encounter with the vampire, how he had willingly offered his blood and the subsequent chaos that had unfolded when the vampire lost control and nearly drained him completely.
He then glanced at his solemn grandmothers, sensing the gravity of the situation without needing an explanation. "Looks like they've given you an earful," Sam mused to himself, unsure whether to laugh or cry at the predicament he had unintentionally created.
"Don't blame them, Grandma Yuu. They didn't force me to do anything. I made that choice myself. I had no idea the vampire could lose control like that," Sam expressed his remorse.
Observing her beloved grandson's apologetic expression, Grandma Yuu couldn't hold onto her anger any longer. Instead, she sighed and granted them some leniency.
"What happened to that wretched vampire?" Sam inquired, sitting up straight on the bed, his gaze shifting between his family members. Jenna, his maternal grandmother and an adept alchemist and witch, assessed his condition, ensuring his well-being.
"We managed to subdue him completely. After he consumed your blood, he became unstable. It was as if your blood triggered something within him. It was truly peculiar," Jin scoffed, resting his chin in his hands. "He kept screaming and claiming that your blood was heavenly, and he desired more, threatening to kill everyone otherwise."
Taking no chances, they employed Anos's magic to render the vampire unconscious and restrained, using magical chains to bind him to the earthly realm. Should he attempt anything foolish, the chains would tighten and sear his flesh.
"Why allow him to live? Just eliminate him and be done with it," Grandma Yuu pressed, scrutinizing Sam's eyes for any signs of danger or contagion. She had no intention of taking any risks. Who knows what that vampire's mouth had been exposed to?
"We cannot kill him," Anos replied.
"Why not?"
"Because the noble vampires of the Kuroyami clan are en route to Arcane, and they are after him," Anos explained, presenting a letter adorned with the royal clan's seal. "When we informed the vampire king of his presence, he requested that we contact the Noble Vampires, as he wanted the Kuroyami Clan to take responsibility for the actions of this vampire against our people."
"Upon contacting them, we were instructed not to kill him. They want him alive. This vampire appears to be part of a resistance group aiming to overthrow the current vampire king and pave the way for a new ruler," Anos continued, perusing the letter in his hands.
"A new vampire king? Are you serious?" The news of a potential new vampire king, someone who could potentially dethrone the ancient and monstrous progenitor of vampires, seemed incredulous. Even the Mage King harbored doubts regarding such claims. Nevertheless, they hesitated to dismiss the possibility entirely, as aligning themselves with the victorious side held its appeal to mages and heroes alike.
Yes, they were selfish.
Sam listened attentively as his grandfathers recounted the events, delving into topics such as vampire society, culture, and the immense influence of noble clans, second only to the vampire king himself.
Throughout their conversation, Sam acquired a wealth of knowledge. He learned about the clairvoyant abilities of the Uranashi clan, the current vampire king's status as one of the oldest beings to have ever existed, and the fabled Moonlight City, home to Nightingale.